Sesiidae

[Vodkaman]

Photographed in Bandung, W Java.

I have photographed this wonderful creature on five occasions over the last two years. At first I thought it to be some kind of exotic bee, the way it hovered in front of a bloom to feed.

I eventually found a link to a moth that looks identical; Melittia sangaica nipponica, but I think to go to species level would be a bit presumptuous, especially as my reference is so far away in Japan and the validity of the source could not be guaranteed.

Dave

Update - decided to go with Melittia cf sangaica as a safe ID.

Image No5 removed, posted in error (wrong species).